Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-07-21

slightly, he turned and walked out
through the oak hall, and down the
prim- bordered walk, with mist dim
ming all the fair scene to his eyes; for
he was but a young man, and all the
love of his youth had been given to Mer-
cy Cuthbertson.
80 Asher maj ched away with his
company to join Putnam. And the
hearts of the good folk of Stanberry
rose and sank with the fortunes of the
little patriot army, all save Major Cuth-
bertson, who remained bitter Tory.
and who would no doubt have had his
property contiscated but for the fact
that he died before the second year
of the war, and no one would trouble
Mrs. Cuthbertson, though she held as
a sacred duty to all her husbands be-
liefs, and read the prayers for the King
morning and night, and shut herself up
to mourn after each English defeat.
"How Mercy felt in the meantime
no one knew. The social life was all
broken up, and political feeling held
the most of their old neighbors aloof.
1t might have been her deep mourn
ing that made her face look pale, but
many woman's face grew pale and
grave in those long years. Now and
then, at wide intervals, Asher Brad
shaw returned to Stanberry to collect
supplies, or recruit for the army; and
if he and Mercy CHANGED to meet,
their only recognition was formal
courtesy. However, IN seemingly
careless way, she managed to gather
from the housemaids whatever news
was current in the town, and often, as
she listened to stories of the soldier
suffering, her eyes grew wet; and
wonderful was the amount of flannel
and old linen Eunice Filder, the house
keeper, received at her hands, and
which, being an ardent patriot, she at
once dispatched to the army.
"Slowly but surely, with varying
fortunes, the war went on, and Tren-
ton was taken, and Burgoyne forced
to surrender, and the Cowpens won.
And then, one day, there came u post
to Stanbefry that the battle of Eutaw
Springs had been fought, and among
the slain was Colonel Asher Bradshaw.
News travelled but slowly then, and ii
was weeks before letter came that he
had not been killed, but only badly
wounded, and as soon as he was able
was coming home. And, in the mean
time, the joyful tidings came that
CORVALLIS had surrendered; and bells
rang out, and bonfres blazed, and
every where the people gave thanks fol
peace.
"And at last, one afternoon in late
autumn, Asher Bradshaw, riding slow
ly, for his wound was not yet fully
healed and his arm was still in a
sling, rode down the familiar road,
and saw once more the loved meadows
and willow thickets that marked the
rivers course. But from the glad sight
of his own home-chimneys beyond, his
eyes came back to the red brick house
he was nearing, with its prim-bordered
walk, and tall rose trees now leafless
and bare; and glancing up at the win
dows with a longing look, he sighed
that he caught no sight of the face he
would fain have seen. But as he drew
nigh the gate, there was rustling of
the dry leaves. and behind the half
screening hedge a glimpse of a slender
figure, and he refined in his horse will
vague but tumultuous hope of he
hardly knew what.
ode was not mistaken, for Mercy
Cuthbertson was coming swiftly down
the walk, with her eyes shining, and &
soft flush tinging her whole face, ant
going straight up to him, where
springing from his horse, he waited
her, held out her hand with the single
word uttered TREMENDOUSLY, and hardly
above a whisper: Welcome
Sand Asher took the fine, white hand
in his, Drowned with the stain of hard
ship and battle since they last clasped
saying: Sweet Mistress Mercy, is i
indeed welcome to meP'
"And, lifting to his her dark eyes
trimming with love and tears, she an
swered, shyly: Yes, Asher, it is wei
come
80 when Asher Bradshaw's first
born son was laid in his arms, he salt
that, because had it not been for tina
word the Bradshaw race would nav
ended, and because to him it would a.
ways be the sweetest word in all tn
, world, the child should bear the nam
of Welcome. And since then, for fou
generations, there has never failed
, Welcome Bradshaw.
, Nor shall there in the fifth" sal
Grace, kissing the s'ee ping baby in he
lap.-Eid Thomas, i'a Current
I. q